By Charlene Gatt
ORIO, Deng, Phong and Daniel used their texting skills for a good cause last week, taking part in a mass text to send out anti-violence messages for White Ribbon Day.
Braybrook Secondary, Footscray City and Maribyrnong Secondary College students have been working for the last four weeks to find a single, powerful anti-violence message for their school that was texted to friends and school mates to spread the message that violence, intimidation, harassment, bullying and abuse are completely unacceptable.
Maribyrnong City Council and the Western Region Health Centre also got into the spirit of things, marching through the streets of Footscray and hosting a barbecue at Maddern Square.
Meanwhile, former premier Joan Kirner will launch the first ever regional plan to prevent violence against women in the West this Thursday at a breakfast at Newport Substation.
The plan calls on councils and community health services across the West to undertake actions that will contribute to changing the underlying conditions that cause violence against women in the first place – not only attitudes and behaviours, but also fundamental problems such as inequality between women and men.
“We’ve heard a lot this election about ‘law and order’, and the reality that people need to realise is that women are much more likely to experience violence from a male partner, in their own homes, than out in the public domain,” Ms Kirner said.
Women’s Health West CEO Dr Robyn Gregory said violence against women was one of the most serious human rights abuses in the community.
“It is everyone’s business to prevent violence against women, but we don’t always know where to start,” she said.
“This action plan takes an overwhelming problem and sets out clear and achievable tasks for dealing with it. It builds on years of collaboration with organisations and communities in our region and we are delighted to have so many colleagues committing to this challenge.”
One in three women will experience violence from someone they know and the misuse of technology to bully, harass or abuse via mobile phones and social networking sites has in some instances lead to young people having to change or leave school, self-harm and in extreme cases suicide.
